Chicago Shakespeare Theater Announces 2013/14 Season

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson announced today CST's 2013/14 Season, which includes William Shakespeare's popular comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Artistic Director Barbara Gaines; Shakespeare's epic history play Henry V, staged by acclaimed British director Christopher Luscombe; and Edmond Rostand's classic romance Cyrano de Bergerac, directed by Penny Metropulos and featuring Harry Groener (CST's The Madness of George III, Jeff Award) in the title role.

Continuing CST's exploration of the Stephen Sondheim canon-which started with the Olivier and Jeff Award-winning Pacific Overtures (2001) and most recently with the highly acclaimed productions Follies (2011) and Sunday in the Park with George (2012)-Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin stages two musicals spanning Sondheim's prolific career, each propelled by uncompromising characters in pursuit of the American Dream. In productions scheduled to run simultaneously in two CST theater spaces, Gypsy will be produced in the Courtyard Theater andRoad Show, formerly under the title Bounce and reworked and premiered at The Public Theater in 2008, will be re-imagined by Griffin in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare.

"Every production in the 2013/14 Series will breathe new life into some of the most alluring characters to inhabit cherished, classic stories," said Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. "From Falstaff to King Henry V, Cyrano to Momma Rose and the restless Mizner brothers, we will bring larger-than-life personalities into intimate proximity with our audience. Each production will illuminate the human condition-in love and war, success and failure-with bold drama, laughter and music."

Chicago Shakespeare's heralded World's Stage Series continues to bring International Artists to Chicago, develop new work with theater artists from around the globe and export CST productions abroad. The initial offerings slated for the 2013/14 World's Stage Series include: From Cornwall, England, comes the long-awaited Chicago debut of the internationally acclaimed Kneehigh (The Wild Bride,Brief Encounter, The Red Shoes), with their audacious signature work Tristan & Yseult; and Australia's one step at a time like this returns to Chicago following their acclaimed 2011 urban journey, en route, with a second CST-commission inspired by Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. Touring Chicago-made productions abroad, CST-commissions Cadre by Omphile Molusi and Othello: The Remix, created by the Q Brothers, are slated for future international engagements next season, with travel to London, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Adelaide.Additional World's Stage productions will be announced in the months ahead.

In a season that embarks on Chicago Shakespeare's boldest exploration of the Sondheim canon, it is especially fitting that Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim will receive from CST the Spirit of Shakespeare Award, along with Mayor Richard M. Daley. Artistic Honoree, Stephen Sondheim, will be recognized for his preeminent contribution to American theater and the celebrated productions of his work staged by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin. Former Mayor Richard M. Daley, honored for the first time since leaving office, is aptly this year's Civic Honoree. The Theater will recognize Daley's unparalleled commitment to strengthening the artistic landscape of our City and advancing Chicago as a global cultural destination. The Spirit of Shakespeare awards will be presented at CST's annual Gala kicking off the new season on June 17, 2013. Both honorees will be in attendance.

Productions in the Chicago Shakespeare 2013/14 Season join previously announced productions: Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet (Saturdays at 11 a.m. through March 23, 2013) staged by Rachel Rockwell; the CST-commissionedOthello: The Remix (March 12-April 28, 2013), written, directed and with music by Chicago's own Q Brothers, following its world premiere at the 2012 Cultural Olympiad at Shakespeare's Globe; Roadkill (May 11-26, 2013), the site-specific theatrical and multi-media event conceived and directed by Cora Bissett; William Shakespeare's Henry VIII (April 30-June 16, 2013), directed by Barbara Gaines; the celebration of The Year of Italian Culture in America with Piccolo Teatro di Milano's production Inner Voices (June 25-29, 2013); and the summer family production Shrek The Musical (July 13-September 1, 2013) staged by Rachel Rockwell, offering family friendly ticket prices of $18-25.

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